As the minutes and hours tick away toward the end of another year and toward the beginning of a New Year, I have one final, meaningless, inane, and foolish observation to make about the species often referred to as “homo sapiens.” Despite the inevitable pain, suffering, illness, and disappointment that will greet many us in the New Year, we, nevertheless, will continue to strive and expand, explore and discover, invent and astonish. We might be flawed, but more than anything, we are survivors. To family, friends, ex-friends, and foes I bid you a Happy and Healthy New Year.

In my lifetime, there has been only been a handful of films that have truly captured and celebrated the beauty and magic of the cinema. Off hand, Francois Trauffaut’s “Day for Night” and Woody Allen’s “Purple Rose of Cairo.” Yesterday, I had the great honor of seeing Martin Scorsese’s “Hugo.” It not only pays homage to greaert inventors and artists of the early cinema but might be the most beautiful film I have ever seen. Thank you, Mr. Scorsese, for your diligence in preserving the films of the great cinematic artists of the past and for making some of the greatest films and works of art in cinematic history.

For a beautiful picture of the key art for the film, check out Trend Rabbit’s post by clicking on this link: http://bit.ly/rQLNVd

A note about the late boxing champ, Joe Frazier…For those who don’t think we have made strives toward racial harmony let me speak as someone who grew up during the Frazier/Ali era. In short, we have made major strives and in no small part Joe Frazier contributed mightily toward that goal. He represented a hard working black man in a country deeply divided. Our thanks go out to you, Champ.

Thank you Mr. Lincoln. You saved the union and now we live in the most perfect country in the world.

On November 6, 1860, Abraham Lincoln was elected president. Exactly one year later, Jefferson Davis of Mississippi was chosen to lead the newly formed Confederate States of America as its president. Find out more about these two political leaders and the role they played during the American Civil War here: http://bit.ly/ubXVPX

Military Veterans

I know you probably want to take me to task for asking you to vote on DANCING WITH THE STARS. I admit that I was suckered in by my wife, but I keep watching because of J.R. Martinez.

Martinez is a vet who was burned over 40% of his body and had massive facial injuries. Yet, there he is, dancing for all to see. Not only does he portray the confidence of Cary Grant, but the man is doing his best Astaire.

Log on to abc.com and vote for Martinez. He gave a lot. Give him a minute of your time.

P.S. I would like to thank the Republicans for giving me so many concrete reasons not to vote for any of you. Presidents Reagan, Teddy Roosevelt, Eisenhower, and Lincoln would be appalled by your actions. Way to go!!!!

The dream is not senseless, not absurd, does not presuppose that a part of our store of ideas is dormant while another part begins to awaken. It is a psychic phenomenon of full value, and indeed the fulfilment of a wish.
—The Interpretation of Dreams
Sigmund
Freud